Question about Japan and their skaters

I know skating is very important in Japan. And they love their skaters. My question is, having so many elite skaters why did the Japanese decide that Mao Asada was their sweethheart over skaters like Miki and Akiko. I am a huge Mao fan, but the Japanese media give her too much preference. I was watching a program after Nationals and they spend half of the time talking about Mao.

Maybe because she is a two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist? But I agree that Miki or Akiko should receive more attention, they are woderful skaters, too: especially Miki: in those early years when Mao was landing 3-3-3 and 3A like nothing, Miki was landing QUADS and her results have been a lot better for a lot of time, Mao clearly surpassed her just in the two pre-Olympic seasons, but, yes, in Japan they give too much importance to Mao when, frankly talking, a lot of skaters are (or have been) almost at her level...